Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-04-29
Another Rejoinder.

-
Mr. Edst0r In my answer to CORES.
pendent of the Advocate In its issue of the
9Th instant signed "Mist", to guard against
imposing upon your space was too briel
to be as clear and accurate upon the subject
OF public expenditures as l would desire.
1t will be remembered by the readers of that
Journal, that "Mist" charactsrizes all the
charges made by the retsrmers as glittering
generalities sputtered against dark back
ground Of Imaginary csrruptions; he calls the
leaders disgruntled, sorehcads, &C.. charges
them with wanting to be bosses, and the
lesser lights in the movements as their plas-
tic tools. After going on to make the i'm.
preston that the B. & o. Railroad interests
are at the bottom OF 1t all, he calls upon us
10 say what it is we want reformed? In
further and more explicit answer to this,
weuld say that the first thing we want is
pure ballot in Baltimore city, SO that she
will not have twenty-one members in the
legislature and constitutional convention in
the interest. and under the influence of the
criminal class of voters Of thatcity,t to hold the
balance of power In those bodies, sufficient
to sustain all the selfish objects Of PROBES.
sional political gamblers, and defeat every
measure intended for good government and
the protection Of taxpayers. In support OF
the position that ii, as some assert, we must
have bosses, we want honest bosses. Icharge
that the present bosses are responsible for
this cerruction of the ballet, and have GER
tain object in it. In support of this, charge
that, under their rule, we have drifted back
int the channels OF the wantsn extrava-
gance INDUCED in prior to 1882, by which
vast sums Of public money that belonged to
the sinking fund were misapplied In sup
pert of this latter charge, give the follow.
ing In the oyster service for the last fiscal
year the receipts about balanced the ex-
penses Of repairs, &c, which tho salaries Of
the officers, crews, &c, amounting te 1884,
362.65 had 70 paid out Of the treasHfy.->s1
contrast with this, 10 1888 the excess of re
ceipts over expenditures was $l1,634.49 al
ter the purchase Of new steamer, making
a difference in two years, latter making
all necessary allswances,) of about $4,000
against the treasury. The receipts from to-
bacco inspections for the last fiscal year were
$73.850.67, and yet they could not pay the
running expenses and the salaries of the
officers, nor u cent of the ground rent of
$448, or the insurance upon of $3.50, eav
ing charge TO be paid eut OF the treasury
Of $6,467,59. In contrast for the year 1888
the inspections paid all the running ex
penses, all the salaries, the ground rent AMI
insurance, and paid into the treasury 81.
68417, making difference in two years o T
81, 1916 against the treasury for this ser
vice.
The Comptroller admits the necessity tor
reform 10y insisting that these branches of
the public service should be sci. sustaining
The legislative expenses which had reach,
ed in 1880 $l33 ,070.49, were reduced in 1882
TO $105, 64677, but we find that in 1884 they
were increased to $l16,89 "a, and in 1886
they were still further increased to SAL
48543. Besides this appropriations were
made to the militia of $4,000 for the next
two years against $4,000 for the two pre-
csding years, making difference oi $3.50, 100
against the treasury; and also an apsrDs.
priatisn of $4,000 for an addition to the
State House.
Now might 60 on to recite other jobs of
the kind that are being at every session of
the legislature put upon the State, from
which it is easy u see that it is necessary
that the ballot Should be corrupted some
where to sustain such a reckless policy for
the personal benefit Of the few at the ex
pense of the many And why 1t is that we
arc still taxed for the interest and principal
of State debts that would have already been
paid II our revenues had not been wasted or
stolen? | do not propose to charge the NOM
bers OF the legislature Unfortunately with
infdelity and corruption, but these out.
RACES are accomplished by the artitice vi u
few designing leaders, acting in conjunction
with these very pleasant and plausible
broadcloth gentlemen who constitute the
third house of the legislature, called the
lobby, and thus the credulity and nadver-
tence Of inexperienced and unsuspecting
members are imposed upon. Now, sir, when
these things are called imaginary cOrruptions,
tell you that our old fashioned Democrats,
who have not entirely lost sight Of the old
landmarks, d0nt talk that way.
But in the last issue OF the Allocate (22nd
inst) a correspondent comes along calling
himself Regular Reformer." As he So
spritedly vindlcltes thDs. whose methods
in the management Of pu blic affairs il is
now proposed to reform, II would seem that
while he is holding with the hare he is run
ming with the hounds, and as he calls him
sell u regular refUrner, IL seems 10 iollsw
that he considers another class OF reormers,
Of whose conduct liz SO bitterly complains,
irregular relorncrs would tenderly re-
mind him, hswever, that the movements Of
tornadoes and contending armies are ofieA
very irregular, but by such mansuvers they
sometimes acquire irresistible force. He says,
in substance, that when we admit that the
legislatures have always been controlled by
the regulars that they are entitled 10 all the
reforms, but he does not deny what Was said
by his forerunner, mist" and what We also
admit and know to he true, that ths Is. u o..
Railroad Company could always have any
Job put up by these same legislators, fact
which shows u most shameful abuse Oi that
confidence which he claims the party has in
its managers. Bat what ar. thes; b1astel
reforms? From 1875 to 1879 theirs va. n
great deal oi com ''lint among these old
fashioned Democrats, (0r somehow these
plain working farmers, mechanics aul la
borers know by the ratteof u machine when
screws are loose,) and in the campaign Of
1879 great reforms were pronset, but as by
the election Of Hon VIM T. Htmiitpn as
Governor they had put ciean CO lar over a
dirty shirt, they concluded To venturath Though
the session of 1880 without change of raj
ment What was the result? AT the next
general election, from u number OF the
strongest Democratic counties we sent mix
ed delegations to the next legislature, and
had nearly lost the State, the tactics OF the
bosses were called into requistlen, their or
ders were given and as usual sbeyed, the
laundry was drawn upon for clean linen
and the wolf in Sleeps clothing appeared
decorated in number of salutary ieiorias
but as have shown above the dog has rc.
turned to his vonit and the saw that was
washed to her walowing in the mire.
He speaks of the fierce rhetoric over the awe
inspiring signature OF /. W., Of s., and post
script II he means the author OF this arti
Gle, wish To say that as | propose at all
times TO be entirely responsible personally
for what | write or speak for public con
sidcration He would have given no offenc,
II he hal uscl nay full name, and while
think IL the duty Of those who thus write
and speak 10 employ chasie and appropriate
language, claim To tohave aimed at truth
and logic rather than rhetoric, but further, ]
my signature Is awe inspiring 10 him il isno
SO much owing tony supposed ability rs th'
consciousness on his part of the spurious
fJunds.ion upon which he stands.
lie goes on u say that the Registration
law, which was not needed for the coun
ties, was passed after long aud serious con
sheraton l.. secure fair elections in Balti
more city. Now, sir, the fact that under tn
administration Of Gov. Hamiltsn IL prove,
sufficient Tor that purpose only makes ih
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